H.E. PRESIDENT XANANA GUSMÃO RECEIVES NEW APOSTOLIC NUNCIO


Friday, September 19, 2003

Following the presentation this morning of the credentials from the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, H.E President Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão will receive the letter of credentials from the new Apostolic Nuncio to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E Mgr. Renzo Fratini.

Mgr. Fratini, also the Titular Archbishop of Botriana, first entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See on 1974, after having received his Doctorate in Canon Law.

Since then, he has served in the Apostolic Nunciatures of Japan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Greece, Ecuador, Israel and France. In 1993, Mgr. Fratini served as the Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan before being ordained Archbishop later that year. Mgr. Fratini is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

“Given the fact that Timor-Leste has a population, which is more than 98% Roman Catholic, and the significant role that the Catholic religion plays in the lives of ordinary Timorese citizens, I am greatly pleased to welcome Mgr. Fratini as the Apostolic Nuncio to Timor-Leste. Over the years, the Catholic Church has and continues to play an active and crucial role in the areas of education, health, community and youth development. This assistance has been of enormous benefit to the well-being our people and I hope to foster this and other areas of cooperation”, stated President Xanana Gusmão.